Rowney Family Tree

John GREEN was born December 23, 1813, in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, England. The third child and first son of John and Ann GREEN.

John's father had been a soldier in the British Army and took part in the Peninsula War. He was a Sergeant Major and fought under the Duke of Wellington and the Duke of York. He was badly wounded by a saber cut in his head when his regiment was charged by the French Cavalry and received his discharge for this reason. Because of this the British Government gave him a tract of land in South Africa as his reward.

John's parents emigrated from England to South Africa, in 1820. They set sail from Portsmouth, England, on a ship called the "Weymouth", under the leadership of Captain Duncan CAMPBELL. Among the passengers listed were: John GREEN age 39, Ann GREEN 30, John 6, James 5, Mary 7, Thomas 3, William 2, and Hannah 9.

It is interesting to know the John KIRKMAN family of Manchester, England, also sailed from England to South Africa, the same year.

The KIRKMAN family set sail from Liverpool, England, on a ship called the "Stetnor". Among the passengers listed were: John KIRKMAN age 33, Mary KIRKMAN 31, Albert 7, Hannah 11, Mary 4, Margaret 2, and Martha 1.

Both ships left their English harbors late in December 1819, or early in January 1820, and landed at Algoa Bay [now known as Port Elizabeth] South Africa, after a voyage of 120 days.

John GREEN married Margaret KIRKMAN, daughter of John and Mary Alice (ASHWORTH) KIRKMAN, December 23, 1835. To this union nine children were born.

John acquired what education he could from the schools in South Africa, from good books and from practical experience. When his father's property was lost during a British Army skirmish with the Kaffirs naturally John and the other children had to do without many of the comforts of life, as well as some of their formal schooling. However, the schooling John was able to obtain, along with his reading and association with the people about him, secured for him a position as a school teacher. In this capacity he pursued his own private studies and through his own perseverance and ability he was admitted to the Bar to practice law. In this profession he became a lawyer of high rank. He was courteous and polite and his counsel and advice were constantly sought in such legal matters as drawing and probating wills, settling of estates and corporations, etc. He was a gifted and fluent speaker and was often called on to read in public. [Apparently it was a custom of the time, whether in public gatherings, at church, or in court, to read important messages or addresses of educated men on subjects thought to be of interest and benefit to the general public. On many such occasions, John was called upon by the judge, minister or presiding officer to read; it being generally recognized that he was among the best of readers.]

John was equally successful at holding the attention of audiences when delivering addresses. His pleadings at the court of law were listened to with marked attention by judge, jurors and spectators alike. All apparently appreciated his manner of gathering and sifting evidence and his arranging and presentation of material. These things, accompanied with wit, wisdom and sincerity often won for him a victory. Needless to say, he had a pleasing appearance, was kind and considerate of the feelings of others, was firm in his convictions and powerful in speech.

In 1853, three missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, were sent from England to South Africa to open a mission there for the preaching of the Gospel. Elders Jesse HAVEN, Leonard I. HARRIS and William H. WALKER, after embarking at England on February 11, 1853, docked at Capetown, South Africa, on April 19, of the same year. On May 23, they organized the Mission of South Africa and baptized the first convert, Henry STRINGER on June 15th. Within six months these three Elders had baptized 45 persons, organized two branches and blessed a number of children. A little more than a year later, John was baptized by Elder WALKER. He was baptized 29 September 1854, and on the same day, was confirmed a member of the Church by Elder WALKER.

It is interesting to read what Elder WALKER wrote of John and Margaret in the history of the South African Mission: "Sister Margaret Kirkman GREEN was baptized into the Church February 17, 1854, by William H. WALKER. After a meeting March 10, 1854, John GREEN informed me that his wife had been restored to health through the power of God, under my administration."

After reporting this faith healing of Margaret, Elder WALKER tells of his meeting and baptizing John:

"I had concluded that the Lord did not require me to stay in Grahamstown any longer, but I felt that I wanted to leave the people without excuse, and now I could leave them and feel that my garments would be clean from their blood in the day of judgment. With these convictions, I returned to Ft. Beaufort, where the Saints spared no pains in providing for my comfort and wants, everything that I could desire. A few days before leaving Grahamstown, I had dreamed that I was traveling under a great load, but in a short while I would baptize a Mr. John GREEN, who would be the first. At that time he was in the Kat River Country and at that time it seemed the prospects were more favorable that several should be baptized before Mr. GREEN.

A few days after his arrival at Ft. Beaufort, Elder WALKER writes:

"I went farther up the country to the borders of the Kaffir land to extend my labors. I found John GREEN, the one of my dream, on Kat River; his wife had been baptized some time before, but he was favorably impressed. I had lost my horse which Brother PARKER had given me, which left me on foot. A few days later as I was about to start on my regular circuit, Mr. GREEN came to me and tried to get a horse for me, for he did not like to see me go on foot. I told him if he desired to be baptized I would stay, if not I would continue my journey. Before I had gone far he overtook me with a horse and asked me to get on and ride. I did so; we traveled on for about two miles, when we came to the forks of the road; here we talked for some time, he insisting on me going back. I said I would go on one condition, as he hesitated, I continued my journey. He called to me and said if I would go back and stay till the next day, he would be baptized. I readily consented and returned. In the meantime he went some twenty miles away on business, and when he returned he had with him the horse I had lost some three weeks before. On September 29, 1854, I baptized John GREEN and confirmed him a member of the Church.

In 1912, Alexander DAWSON of Layton, Utah, said that John GREEN was the best Gospel speaker he had ever heard in his life. Which tells us a great deal about this man, for not only did he use his talents and abilities to gain a living, but also preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Margaret Kirkman GREEN and all her children except Mary Ann, left South Africa for Utah, in 1863, John remained there to dispose of the property and settle an estate in the courts for which he was the solicitor. He was to come to Utah the following year, but for some reason or other, never came.

John died in the home of his daughter Mary Ann Green ROBERTSON, in Alice, South Africa, in 1883.

SOURCE: Green Family Organization (1974). John Green Family Record Book (pp. 1-4). [www.wheatleyfamily.net]